Posted on 04/15/2010 2:11:25 PM PDT by george76
Some House Republicans introduced a bill they said would improve border security on federal lands. It would transfer operational control of lands along the national border to the Department of Homeland Security, instead of the Interior Department or Forest Service.
Rep. Rob Bishop...and other lawmakers accused federal land managers of “hiding behind the law” to place wilderness or endangered species ahead of border safety. In one instance, a tower used by Border Patrol agents was removed because of concerns about endangered species...
Bishop said federal border lands have become a dangerous, “unpatrolled highway” open to drug smugglers and other criminals who endanger American lives and cause severe environmental damage. He and other lawmakers said federal land managers routinely hinder the Border Patrol from securing U.S. borders by requiring lengthy and expensive environmental analyses, and even prevent Border Patrol agents from entering some areas.
(Excerpt) Read more at svherald.com ...
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